Afghanistan vs Ireland, 3rd ODI Tips & Preview – Torrential Rain Causes Headache For Both Teams

Rains in UAE forced the abandonment of the second ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland. 

Parts of the outfield at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium were underwater. With much of the ground covered, there’s hope that the third ODI shouldn’t be hampered even if there is just half a day’s sunshine in the lead-up to the match.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s talent has never been in doubt. At times, though, his temperament has come in for sharp focus. His propensity to bat in the same explosive gear has sometimes led to his downfall at key moments. However, experience in the franchise circuit over the past two years has helped him mature, signs of which were evident when he batted through to make a 117-ball 121 in Afghanistan’s 35-run win in the first ODI.

Gurbaz formed a crucial partnership with Ibrahim Zadran (150 runs for the first wicket) to lay the foundation. The finishing touches were lent by Mohammad Nabi’s cameo 40 and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s unbeaten 33-ball 50. This helped Afghanistan score 95 off the last 10; they eventually made 310 which was comfortably enough.

We saw how vulnerable the top order was during the one-off test match between these two teams. That was papered over because Ireland went on to win, but they stood exposed in the first ODI. In a tall chase, you’re not going to be able to come back from 34 for 3 in ten overs most times. 

They made a good fist of the target, thanks mainly to Harry Rector’s brilliant 138 off 147 balls and Lorcan Tucker’s 85. But once their partnership was broken, there was hardly even an inkling of a fight Ireland put up in the middle. 

It’s not often that you see pacers accounting for more wickets than spinners, but that’s exactly how it panned out for Afghanistan with their seam trio of Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib picking up eight wickets between them.

Most sports books allow you to make changes to your team until after the toss. Watch out for the weather forecast and start times. If there’s a delay and the game is shortened, Ireland will be more than in with a shout.

If it’s a full 50-overs game, back Afghanistan’s pedigree to give you excellent returns, for the experience of the big-match situations and knowledge of conditions having played much of their home games over the past decade here counts for something, after all.